CGEM Computerized Mount Computerized Telescope
Item #91526

NexRemote Control Software
for Celestron Computerized Telescopes

OVERVIEW
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
NEXREMOTE KIT
DOWNLOADS

Celestron has been in the forefront of computerized telescope technology for over two decades. We have taken this expertise in telescope technology one step further by introducing the NexRemote™ Telescope Control Software. NexRemote allows the user to control their Celestron computerized telescope from their personal computer. Everything that is done using the telescope’s hand control can now be done remotely from a PC or laptop. This software was developed for Celestron’s high-end telescopes that use the NexStar control system including the NexStar "i" Series, Advanced Series, NexStar GPS Series and CGE Series.

NexRemote provides full emulation of every aspect of the Celestron Computerized Hand Control including:

• Alignment in any tracking mode
• Database of objects
• User objects
• Hibernation
• Connect to popular planetarium programs

NexRemote began shipping in March 2005 with select high-end computerized Celestron telescopes including NexStar i Series models, NexStar GPS models and CGE models. Contact your Celestron dealer to find out availability of upgraded models that include NexRemote. Software will also come with an RS-232 cable to connect your Celestron telescope to a PC. For those who already own a compatible Celestron computerized telescope and want to take it to the next level of convenience and enjoyment, the software can be purchased separately as a kit through an authorized Celestron dealer (item# 93710). Kit includes the NexRemote software & license, RS-232 cable and a Serial-to-USB adapter.

System Requirements

Compatible Telescopes:

• NexStar SLT
• NexStar 8i SE
• Advanced Computerized Series
• CPC GPS Series
• CGE Series
• Discontinued Celestron NexStar 8/9.25/11 GPS
• Discontinued Celestron NexStar 5i/ 8i

Computer:

• PC compatible (Note: 233MHz Pentium II or better is required)
• Windows 98SE or better is required for basic operation
• Windows NT, 2000, or XP is required for Virtual Port operation
• NexRemote will not work with 64 bit version of Windows Vista
• DirectX 7 or later must be installed. (DirectX can be obtained for free by clicking here.)
• SAPI 5.1 or later is required for speech support. ( This is free to download and can be obtained here.)
• MDAC 2.5 or later is required for tour editing. (If no database entries are displayed when you launch NexTour, you can download this update for free by clicking here.)

Port:

• RS232 Serial Port (or USB-to-Serial / PCMCIA-to-Serial adapter)

Cable:

• PC Port (programming) or HC Serial cable (Note: An additional device is required when using the GT telescopes. Please contact technical support for more details.)

Gamepad:

• Logitech Wingman Cordless Rumblepad
• Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2
• Logitech Wingman Rumblepad USB
• Saitek P3000 Wireless Pad

NOTE: Virtually any gamepad can be configured to work with NexRemote. Read the help files for details.

NexRemote Kit

Now Celestron Advanced Series GT, NexStar “i” Series, GPS, and CGE Series telescopes can be set up and operated remotely from a PC or laptop! NexRemote duplicates all of the functions and features of our NexStar software on the standard NexStar Hand Control plus much more! See our section on NexRemote for more information.

Kit Includes:

NexRemote Software CD with license
RS-232 Cable to connect telescope to PC or Laptop
Serial-To-USB Adapter

Features include:

• Use your favorite planetarium software at the same time as NexRemote
• Custom tour creation
• Use speech support to hear NexRemote say everything out loud
• Wireless operation with compatible gamepad

*NexRemote is included with select NexStar "i" Series, GPS, and CGE Series telescopes beginning in March, 2005 (contact your Celestron Dealer for availability of models with NexRemote).

For the telescopes that have this technology feature, users can upgrade their telescope's operating software via the Internet.

The following products have this feature:

• CPC GPS Series
• NexStar SLT Series
• CGE Series
• Advanced GT Series
• NexStar 8i SE

Current upgrades can be found through our downloads section and on each telescope's product page. To receive an announcement when upgrades have been added, make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list.

All-Star Polar Alignment Technology

German Equatorial Mounts (GEM) have long since been recognized as the mount of choice for astrophotography. Needing to track in only one axis for long exposures; adjustable counterweights and tube position for perfect balance, the GEM has few short comings when it comes to imaging. However accurate tracking still depends on an accurate polar alignment. Even with a visible star very near the North Celestial Pole (NCP), the true celestial pole can be a very elusive place to find without assistance.

Now select Celestron mounts can utilize a new innovative Polar alignment procedure called All-Star^™. All-Star allows users to choose any bright star, while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment.

Here's how it works.

Once your telescope is aligned with two bright star, All-Star allows you to choose any bright star listed in the NexStar hand control to assist in accurately aligning your telescope's mount with the North Celestial Pole. Using the telescope's Sync function, the mount is able to point and center a bright star with a high degree of accuracy. Once centered, the mount will point the telescope to the exact position that the star should be if the mount were precisely polar aligned. By simply adjusting the mounts altitude and azimuth controls to re-center the star in the center of the eyepiece, you are actually moving the mounts polar axis to the exact position of the North Celestial Pole.

FAQ

Can I use Polaris to polar align my telescope?
Since Polaris is very close to the NCP and not very bright, it is actually not a recommended star for the "All-Star" method. The advantages of being able to use stars other than Polaris are two fold:

• Polaris is not always visible. So not only can you use a variety of other stars but they are also brighter and more prominent.
• The star you choose will be farther away from the NCP thus allowing for greater accuracy when centering the star in your eyepiece.

Which stars are best to use for polar aligning?
For best results choose a bright alignment star that is near the Meridian, preferably close to the celestial equator. Try to avoid stars that are close to the west/east horizon or directly overhead because they can be more difficult to center using the mount's altitude and azimuth controls. Also stars too near the celestial pole are less accurate than those further away.

Will I lose my alignment after I polar align?
No, the mount will retain its alignment but some amount of accuracy may be compromised depending on how much the mount has been moved during polar alignment. Although the telscopes tracking may be very good, pointing accuracy may need to be improved, especially if you are trying to located small objects on a ccd chip.

What are the steps to polar align my telescope using "All-Star" polar alignment?

1. Align the telescope with the sky using the "Two-Star Alignment" method.
2. Select a suitable bright star from the Hand Control's database and slew the telescope to the star.
3. Press the Align button and select Polar Align => Align Mount from the list.
4. The telescope will then re-slew to the alignment star and ask you to center it in the eyepiece in order to "Sync" on the star.
5. The telescope will slew to the position that the star should be if it were accurately polar aligned.
6. Use the mounts altitude and azimuth adjustments to place the star in the center of the eyepiece and press the Align button.
7. Update the telescope's star alignment if necessary.

Celestron’s new CGEM™ mount is creating quite a buzz with its stylish design and revolutionary Polar alignment procedure, All-Star™.

PHOTOKINA BOOTH – Hall 2/Booth #C-028

TORRANCE, CA – (September, 2008) – Celestron®, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes and related accessories, has unveiled a new German equatorial mount called CGEM. The mount has a fresh, attractive, bold appearance and is capable of carrying Celestron’s higher-end SCT optical tubes (up to 11”) securely and vibration free which is ideal for both imaging and visual observing.  CGEM was designed to be ergonomically friendly with large Altitude and Azimuth adjustment knobs for quick and easy polar alignment adjustment.  CGEM has a new innovative Polar alignment procedure called All-Star. All-Star allows users to choose any bright star, while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment.  Another great feature of the CGEM, sure to please astroimagers, is the Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PEC) which will allow users to train out the worm gears periodic errors, while the mount retains the PEC recordings.

For objects near the Meridian (imaginary line passing from North to South), the CGEM will track well past the Meridian for uninterrupted imaging through the most ideal part of the sky. The CGEM mount has a robust database with over 40,000 objects, 400 user defined programmable objects and enhanced information on over 200 objects.

“The CGEM mount is the perfect fit between Celestron’s Advanced Series and CGE Series.  In addition, this mount is perfect for astroimagers with its ability to track well past the meridian.” said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron.

For a list of dealer locations and updates, please go to http://www.celestron.com.

Celestron’s CGEM will be on display in the Celestron booth located in Hall 2, booth C-028.

Our latest hand control firmware for computerized goto telescopes, version 4.13, now allows you to update the motor control (telescope mount) firmware through the hand control.  Our hand control firmware is still updated by connecting the RS-232 hand control serial cable (part #93920) directly to the hand control, and then to a computer with an internet connection.

Previously, motor control updates were done through the telescope’s PC Port (CPC and CGE series) using our Programming Cable (part #93922). If your telescope did not have a PC Port (Advanced GT, NexStar SE and NexStar SLT series), you would also have needed our Auxilliary Port Accessory Kit (part #93965)

Our NexStar SE and CPC Series already ship with the RS-232 Cable.  And, if your computer lacks a serial port for the RS-232 Cable, you will also need our USB to RS-232 Converter Cable (# 18775) to connect to your computer’s USB port.

For more information on connecting to a telescope to perform an upgrade, please install and run MCupdate and click on the Help button.

Hand control firmware updates can be downloaded and installed using our new HCupdate application.

For assistance with performing a firmware update, simply download and install HCupdate and click on the Help button.  Individual firmware versions and change history are available through HCupdate by clicking on the Download via the Web button.

VERSION: 1.1.12

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

• Microsoft Windows® 98SE and newer.

Hand Controls running version 4.00 firmware or later are user upgradable.  (This does not include GT series Hand Controls with version 100.0 or later.)  The firmware version can be determined by entering the Utilities menu and selecting Version: the top line of the display shows the current hand control firmware version.

Upgradable hand control firmware is available for the following mount types:

• NexStar GPS
• CPC Series
• Special Edition Series
• Advanced-GT
• CGE Series
• GT Series
• SLT Series

Hand Control updates require a PC based computer with either a DB9 serial port or a USB port with a USB to DB9 serial adapter running Microsoft Windows 98SE or newer.
An RS-232 Cable (part #93920) must be made or purchased to connect between the mount and computer.